Following on from our previous lighthearted piece on JM Coetzee, today we bring you a collection of tweets from the amusing twitter account @FunnyJMCoetzee. The account, run anonymously, jokingly provides a public voice to the private Nobel laureate. @FunnyJMCoetzee ironically tweets about plurality of identity and comments on any mention of Coetzee in the media.
Coetzee’s latest books, his novel The Childhood of Jesus and the collection of his correspondence with Paul Auster Here and Now, get several tweets, with @FunnyJMCoetzee remarking, “I am always mystified when friends declare excitement at the prospect of a new JM Coetzee novel. Not sure what they could be thinking of”.
His participation in the Venice Biennale is explained with “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) and his inclusion in the Folio Society Academy labelled “ironic”. When the JM Coetzee archive was opened at the University of Texas, @FunnyCoetzee cautioned: “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here”. @FunnyJMCoeztee also explains that the article citing Coetzee’s love of cricket had it wrong – he meant “crickets” – and clarifies that his move to Australia was because South Africa doesn’t have a “Skywhale”.
I am not sure what I may be about to say, but I will not under any circumstances commit a typing mistake. Pardon if I tweet slowly.
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) December 22, 2012
I am always mystified when friends declare excitement at the prospect of a new JM Coetzee novel. Not sure what they could be thinking of.
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) December 26, 2012
This type of enthusiasm is painful for me. @ahmpreston MS of Coetzee and Auster’s letters. Very excited about this twitter.com/ahmpreston/sta…
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) January 14, 2013
I’ve agreed to host the Belgian pavilion at the Venice Biennale. YOLO. deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws.e…
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) January 23, 2013
I betrayed myself and read the Guardian review. I want to die. I would feel much better if the critic had had the courtesy to hate the book.
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) February 28, 2013
My work is done here. MT @john_self Most reviewers of “Childhood” have scratched their heads. I’m happy to join them. bit.ly/14wA5iN
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) March 7, 2013
You all know, I presume, that my participation on the new Folio panel is ironic. shar.es/etbvQ @thefolioprize #whatever
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) March 13, 2013
Basically, I’m doing it for the cheese cubes and celery sticks. shar.es/etbvQ@thefolioprize #whatever
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) March 13, 2013
I am a failure at Twitter. I suppose this is not surprising.
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) March 20, 2013
I wonder if I should create a Pinterest account. Would it be as enjoyable for me as Twitter has been?
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) March 22, 2013
I was hoping to pin this cover to the Australian edition of my novel with a message to the artist: YOU HAD ONE JOBbookslive.co.za/files/2013/01/…
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) March 22, 2013
I can’t tell you how often I’ve been asked if “John Coetzee” is a fictional or biographical representaion of myself. Clown question, bro.
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) April 7, 2013
If Paul Auster ever mails you a letter, burn it. If you ever write back, use disappearing ink.
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) April 16, 2013
“Childhood of Jesus” has nothing to do with me, the author. I did not even write the novel.Okay, I did.
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) April 21, 2013
Typically, this article has it wrong. I do not love cricket. I love crickets, and wish to prevent their eradication. bookslive.co.za/blog/2013/04/2…
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) April 28, 2013
“We’ll just put it out like a chapbook,” Paul told me. “Don’t worry, it’s not like critics will notice,” he told me. timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2013/…
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) April 30, 2013
Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. @marksarvas The Coetzee archive at the @ransomcenter is now open for research. bookslive.co.za/blog/2013/04/2…
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) May 7, 2013
Some have asked why I left South Africa for Australia. Well, South Africa doesn’t have a Skywhale. boingboing.net/2013/05/14/can…
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) May 15, 2013
“Coetzee has sent an urgent letter to Spain’s Culture Committee …” Every letter I have ever sent is urgent. looktothestars.org/news/10201-aut…
— FunnyJMCoetzee (@FunnyJMCoetzee) May 23, 2013
Book details
- Here and Now: Letters (2008 – 2011) by JM Coetzee, Paul Auster
EAN: 9780670026661
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- The Childhood of Jesus by JM Coetzee
Book homepage
EAN: 9781846557385
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